Still time to participate in Truckers for Troops

It’s one thing to be a long way from home in a foreign land; it’s another to feel isolated from home. OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops annual care package campaign strives to close that gap.

Every year the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association holds its Truckers for Troops campaign to send care packages to troops serving in active military zones overseas. To date, more than 26,000 are active troops serving in hostile environments.

OOIDA’s weeklong campaign raises money through donations and by matching a 10 percent contribution for every new or renewed membership during the week. The Association has also discounted memberships to $35 for the week.

All of the money raised during the week goes toward the contents of the care packages and their shipping. On average it costs approximately $190 to fill one care package designed to serve an entire unit. Shipping runs around $50 per box.

The campaign will run through the weekend, with replays of “Land Line Now’s” Truckers for Troops Telethon on Sirius XM Channel 146 at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST.

Even though OOIDA HQ is closed over the weekend, there are still ways to participate and contribute to the campaign.

Those wishing to participate can call the main OOIDA number, 800-444-5791, and press 1. That will direct callers to a voicemail box to leave their name and callback number. Someone from the Association will call you back after open of business at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 17.

Applications are also being accepted online at ooida.com. Mailed membership applications and donations postmarked over the weekend will also count toward the total. On mailed payments, note whether the payment is for dues, donation or dues and donation. Also note that the payment is for “Troops.” For those making a donation only, make the checks out to the OOIDA Foundation so the donation can be tax deductible.

Jon Osburn, the OOIDA Spirit of the American Trucker captain, can also sign up members and accept donations throughout the weekend. The Spirit will be parked at the TA Petro in San Antonio, Texas, at Exit 583 on Interstate 10.

All calls, online applications, mailed applications or donations and memberships and donations collected at The Spirit before the open of business Monday, Nov. 17, will count toward this year’s total.

In the seven previous OOIDA Truckers for Troops campaigns, the Association and its membership have raised more than $400,000 for care packages that reached more than 32,000 troops. Last year alone, 215 care packages were shipped providing something to nearly 2,600 troops. The goal each year is to better the previous year.